Stretcher-brace.



A. W. ELSTER'.

STRETCHER BRACE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. 1911.

i Q K 2' INVENTOR WITNESSES 4/7/60 lf/Mff/ ATTORNEY 1n: NORRIS PETERS ca. PNOmLlTNO-. wAsumc run. 0. c.

ANTHON w. ELSTER, or oAnTonsoUTH DAKOTA.

STRETCHER-BRAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed July 12, 1917., Serial No. 180,195.

nailed thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the wires while still in stretched condition can be turned on the end post to start another stretch of fence so that the strain will not be thrown on the one set of staples in the end post.

A further object of the invention is to provide means engaging with the end post for supporting the wire stretcher beyond the post so that the Wires are in stretched condition at the post and may be nailed thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and one which can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a minimum cost.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 shows the invention in use, the fence being shown from the rear side.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

In these figures 1 indicates the corner post of the fence, 2 indicates an intermediate post while 3 represents the wires. 4: represents a cross head or stretcher bar to which the fence wires are connected in any suitable manner. 5 represents the stretcher, of any suitable form, which is connected with the bar 4 by the chain 6 and is operated by the handle 7. 7

My improvement consists of means for supporting said. stretcher beyond the post and these means comprise a truss composed tween the forks curved to conform to the shape of the post, as shown in Fig. 2. A chain 11, or other flexible connection connects the forked ends together so as to prevent the bars 8 from moving too far apart. If a chain is used I prefer to place a hook 12 thereon so that the same may be adjusted as to its length. The upper end of the device has for each forked arm provided With a hole 13, one of which is to receive a rope or chain let which is to have its other end fastened to the post 2 so as to support the device in position while the fence is being stretched. The plate 9 carries a hook 15 at its inner end to which the stretcher 5 is connected by means of the flexible connection 16. It will be seen that this hook is centrally located in relation to the hinges of the bars 8 so that the stretcher is carried centrally of said bars. The outer end of plate 9 is provided with a double hook 17 to receive a rope or chain 18, the other end of which is to be connected to a peg or the like. This chain 18 acts as a brace to prevent the device from swingingon the post while the wire is being stretche By having the double hook 17 the bracing chain 18 may be placed on one side or the other of the device, as desired,

and the same is true of the rope 14 in connection with the holes 13.

In using the device the chain 11 is adjusted to suit the height of fence and then the bars 8 are moved apart and their forked ends placed against the post, the rope or chain 14. being fastened to the post 2 to hold the device in position. The stretcher is then connected with the hook 15 and the stretcher operated to stretch the fence. After the fence is sufiiciently tight the wires are stapled to the post and then the device may be swung on the post to begin a new stretch of fence. Another set of staples may then be placed in the post so as to relieve the strain off the first set when the stretcher is removed.

While I have shown and described the invention as applied to a corner post, it .Will be understood, that I do not Wish to be limited to this use of the invention as itsn ay be applied to one of the intermediate posts just; as Well.

"It is thought from the foregoing that the advantages and novel features Of -my invention Will be readily apparent.

' 'I desire it to be understood that I' may make slight changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the-scope of theappended claim.

' Iclaim as 'my-in'vention:

*ln -a-zdevice of the class described, the combination with a cross head adapted to be attached -to the fence wires, 7L and a -Wire stretcher conne'ctedwith said cross headyof a trussed brace comprising a pair of arms 5 of L-shaped cross section having forks in their outer ends adapted to be seated against a fencerpost and their leaves at their inner ends drawn toward each other, a plate pivwotedvbetw een said leaves, a connection between itsinner end and said stretcher, a

dou-b'lehook throngh its outer end, and a chain connected With one extremity of said hook and adapted tobe kled laterally from the truss and 'attachedto -a peg in the 1- 7 flopienofithis patent may'rbeobta ind tor fivevcents each,='by .addressiggxithe"fiflommissionenmf diatoms,

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